The old ways

It surprised him that thoughts of this kind entered his mind at the situation like this and with his soul and body in an uproar. It ashamed him to allow this arousing feeling to affect him. Haldir had died not two weeks ago and ...... but then again, he was thinking of Haldir and their happy times. Maybe this was only natural.

A way to cope with his situation. Maybe his memories would keep him alive long enough to give birth to their child. Then perhaps he d had have the chance to find his way to Haldir, without whom he did not want to live.

Gimli tugged at his hand and Legolas looked at him. "We are moving on, in case you haven't noticed."

"Sorry, I hadn’t. I was thinking." The elf started moving.

"Good thoughts?" the dwarf inquired.

Legolas tilted his head towards the dwarf and smiled a sad smile at him. "Mainly."

All were glad to see the end of their dark and dreadful path, sounds of the water reached their ears and then they passed through a large gateway into the steep and sharp cliffs. It was still dark outside and none were able to say if they had wandered only one night or many days through the paths of the dead.

A few hours later they could mount their horses again and they pushed on, eager to find a safe haven soon. Gimli shuddered knowing that the dead were following still, their gray shapes looking misty in the dim light of the day.

It was near midnight when they had reached their destination at the Hills of Erech. The horses and riders were weary, when Aragorn blew the silver horn and announced his due.

Gimli watched over Legolas that night, his thoughts still lingering on the sight of weariness and sadness that the elf’s face had mirrored in the darkness of the caves. Gandalf might have called it mood swings, but Gimli knew better. Legolas was on the brink of giving up. The dwarf knew that he was desperately trying to pull himself together, but his tortured soul would not let him. Even in the sleep, his eyes wide open, the elf looked restless.

Gimli had deliberately picked a spot a little off the main fire, so that he and Legolas could have some peace and quiet. Aragorn came only once over to them, checking on the elf’s condition. The trip had worn him out, his body was nourishing the child and his soul was too tired to go on.

"Did he eat something?" Aragorn asked Gimli in a low but concerned voice.

"No, not a bite."

"Make him eat something, he needs it!" the ranger glanced once more at the pale face of his friend.

They rose early in the morning traveling further to the South east, passing village after village. Most of them were deserted, and the rest of the people fleeing at the sight of the army of dead.

Aragorn drove them mercilessly through the wild, but what nobody noticed was that he kept a close eye on Legolas, looking for any signs of weakness or strain, willing to stop immediately if he encountered any.

At the end of the first day out in the open plains, after they had left the razor shark cliffs, they camped out on a vast field. Once there had been crops, but the farmers had left and now wild beasts had roamed here and nothing had remained to be harvested.

Gimli set up his and Legolas bedrolls, somewhat away from the others as usual, and made the elf sit down while he went and fetched some food and drinks.

Aragorn watched the elf ou the the corner of his eye and excused himself from his foster brothers and Halbarad.

Elrohir and Elladan had been shocked when they heard of Haldir’s death and didn’t inquire further about Legolas, after Aragorn had told them that the prince of Mirkwood and marchwarden had made up and had been together again. Halbarad had heard enough of the elves to know that grief could kill them so he had asked no further.

When Aragorn approached the elf and dwarf, only Gimli looked up and smiled.

"Legolas!" Aragorn addressed the elf. Would you mind walking with me a little? I would like to check on you."

Without glancing up, Legolas muttered "There is nothing to check, Aragorn. I am fine."

"No, you are not. You have been eating very little lately and a whole week passed since I examined you last. I do not know much about pregnancies when it comes to male elves, but I believe not many of the healers do. I only know that with your slender body, and the way you are rejecting food and the stress you are under, that those factors aren't healthy for the child."

"Right!" Gimli nodded.

"So, please come with me and let me check you." The ranger had knelt down beside Legolas.

Like a puppet on strings Legolas rose from their makeshift camp and followed Aragorn wordlessly.